Evaluating FACES III and the Circumplex Model: 2,440 Families

Abstract

Previous evaluations of the Circumplex Model's curvilinear hypothesis using FACES instruments have yielded conflicting results. A review of the different research procedures and samples used in those investigations revealed that none of the studies had samples large and/or heterogenous enough to test the curvilinear hypothesis adequately. The present study evaluates the curvilinear hypothesis of family functioning and the concurrent validity of FACES III with a sample of optimal size (N = 2,440 families) and diversity. The lack of support for the curvilinear hypothesis in this "greenhouse" sample is explained by different findings for the two FACES III subscales. There was no relationship between the study's measures of well-being and the adaptability subscale and a linear relationship between these measures and the cohesion subscale. Implications of these findings for the continuing use of the FACES III and for the Circumplex Model of Marital and Family Systems are discussed.

Do Social Resources Protect Against Lower Quality of Life Among Diverse Young Adolescents?

“…Various studies have found support for the reliability and validity of the Family Cohesion subscale (e.g., Green, Harris, Forte, & Robinson, 1991). Examples of questions include "Family members feel very close to each other" and "We like to do things with just our immediate family."…”

Family features in primary social withdrawal among young adults

“…For this purpose we adopted the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES) of David H. Olson. [4][5][6][7] In addition, we devised a questionnaire on family interactions and the personal situation of the withdrawn person, and used this in a survey of study participants. Family evaluation, family interactions, and personal situations were then compared between those with primary social withdrawal, or other types of social withdrawal, and a group of healthy controls, to identify the characteristics of family relationships in primary social withdrawal.…”

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES): an instrument worthy of rehabilitation?

“…This instrument quickly became one of the standard family assessment tools, and has been used in a large number of projects and clinical evaluations (Olson, 1989). However, in the early 1990s the value of the model began to be questioned (Green et al, 1991), and as approaches such as those based on family narratives have become more popular, the idea of dimensional evaluation has largely disappeared.…”

“…However, large scale studies of normal families have tended to report a direct correlation, the higher the score the better the family functioning (Green et al, 1991).…”